McIntosh C22 Preamplifier
Archived listing from the original vintage-amplifier.com. Prices, seller details and purchase links have been removed; this page is a reference record, and nothing here is for sale. About this archive.
Vintage McIntosh C22 Preamplifier – 1 owner. Lightly used in Immaculate Condition with original 6 telefunken 12ax7 (tested 80 on tv7 with min 58). This unit is in perfect working order and in amazing cosmetic condition for its age (see photos). Comes with original manual, wood case and telefunken tubes.
About this model
The address says MA230, but this page has always described a C22 tube preamplifier; the original site reused the address. The C22 is one of McIntosh's best-known tube designs. The company's legacy list dates the original C22 to 1963–1972 and records three later reissues: a Frank McIntosh commemorative edition (1996–1998), a 60th-anniversary version (2009–2012) and a retro-styled Mk IV (2010–2018).
This one-owner example came with its manual and wooden case and six original Telefunken 12AX7s, which the seller reported testing at 80 on a TV-7 tester against a minimum of 58. Original-owner C22s with their factory tubes are about as collectable as American tube preamps get.
| Maker | McIntosh Laboratory, Binghamton, USA |
|---|---|
| Model | C22 stereo tube preamplifier |
| Original production | 1963–1972 (McIntosh) |
| Reissues | 1996–1998, 2009–2012, 2010–2018 |
| Tubes | 6 × 12AX7 (Telefunken in this unit) |
Questions collectors ask
When was the original McIntosh C22 made?
From 1963 to 1972, according to McIntosh's legacy list. Later reissues followed in 1996, 2009 and 2010.
How many tubes does a McIntosh C22 have?
Six 12AX7s; this archived example still had its original Telefunken set.
Sources: McIntosh legacy preamplifiers.
